Urban Government and the Rise of the City

In the 19th century, France experienced unprecedented urban growth. City governments were faced with critical problems, among them the issues of public order, education, sanitation, welfare, and the organization of public space. By comparing the response of five major French provincial municipalities - Lyon, Marseilles, Bordeaux, Toulouse and St Etienne - to the challenges of urbanization, this study aims to elucidate the extent to which city governments were at the forefront in the modernization of urban France. While previous studies have often depicted the central government as pushing reluctant municipalities to respond to their problems, "Urban Governments and the Rise of the City" situates city governments in the centre of action and reveals a far greater degree of municipal vigor than is usually attributed to local government in France. In fact, the book argues municipalities were at the forefront of change, anticipating and in many cases establishing an agenda for many national policies.